Niagara Team Finishes In Top Four

A Pacific McGeorge team turned in a sparkling performance in the 43rd Annual Niagara International Moot Court competition, which was held February 25-27 in Washington, D.C.

Diana Chinn, Mayling Leong, and Catherine Mattesich, and Sevana Sossikian, third-year Day Division students on the Moot Court Honors Board at Pacific McGeorge, advanced to the semifinal round of the before falling to defending champion Case Western Reserve.

Sossikian ended up with a top ten rating in the oral advocate rankings while the team also received the Runner-Up Team Memorial Applicant Award for a brief written by Leong and Mattesich.

In their quarterfinal victory over the University of Western Ontario, Mattesich earned the praise of the round's lead judge of this round who termed her appellant's rebuttal one of the best she had ever heard in the competition.

"I cannot say enough about the poise and hard work exhibited by these students," said their coach, Professor Mary-Beth Moylan, Vishwa, the The compliments that I received from other coaches and judges were numerous and superlative. All four of the students not only argued beautifully, but also demonstrated what those in the CUSLI call 'the spirit of the Niagara,' which means they made cross-border friendships and competed with the utmost integrity and professionalism.

"I would like to thank several people who helped us in our practice rounds: Professors Linda Carter, John Sims, Jennifer Gibson, Ed Telfeyan and most especially Sandeep Vishwa, a member of last year's Niagara team who attended several practices and gave terrific guidance to this year's team.

American University defeated Case Western Reserve in the final round to claim the top prize in a strong 16-team field that included teams from Georgetown and Cornell.